Insulated beverage container holder with cover

ABSTRACT

An insulated beverage container holder can hold a beverage container, such as a can or a bottle. The insulated beverage container holder includes a base portion that can accept the can or bottle and a top portion adapted to butt against the base portion, where the combination of the base portion and the top portion fully encloses the beverage container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/498,229, filed Jun. 17, 2011, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an insulated beverage container holder and, more particularly, to an insulated beverage container holder having a cover to enclose the entire can, keeping bugs and dirt out of the can and keeping the beverage colder longer.

Conventional insulated can holders allow a user to insert a can and extend up to about an inch or two from the top of the can, with this space needed for a user to still drink from the can while keeping the insulated can holder on the can. However, because of this space, the insulated can holder is not as effective in keeping the contents cold, as a portion of the aluminum can is exposed to the air. Moreover, with conventional insulated can holders, dirt and bugs can enter the open can.

Similarly, conventional insulated bottle holders allow a user to insert a bottle and also extend up to about an inch or two from the top of the bottle. These insulated bottle holders, like the can holders described above, allow dirt and bugs into the bottle and also provide a region where the bottle and bottle contents are exposed to the ambient air.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved insulated beverage container holder that fully insulated and covers a can or bottle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an insulated beverage container holder comprises a base portion configured to accept a beverage container therein, a top of the beverage container extending from about ½ to about 2 inches above the top of the base portion; and a top portion configured to fit over the top of the beverage container and butt against the base portion, enclosing the beverage container inside the base portion and the top portion.

In another aspect of the present invention, an insulated can holder comprises a base portion configured to accept a can therein, a top of the can extending from about ½ to about 2 inches above the top of the base portion; a top portion configured to fit over the top of the can and butt against the base portion, enclosing the can inside the base portion and the top portion; and a hinge member extending between the base portion and the top portion, the hinge member operable to permit the top portion to be removed from the top of the beverage container.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a method for keeping a caned beverage cold comprises inserting a beverage can into a base portion of an insulated can holder, the base portion having a top portion connected thereto via a hinge; and disposing the top portion over a top of the beverage can so that the top portion butts against the base portion, enclosing the beverage can inside the insulated can holder.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an insulated beverage container holder according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away view of the insulated beverage container holder of FIG. 1, showing a can inserted therein;

FIG. 3 is a perspective, partially cut-away view of the insulated beverage container holder of FIG. 1, showing the top being opened to reveal a can therewithin; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an insulated beverage container holder that can hold a beverage container, such as a can or a bottle. The insulated beverage container holder includes a base portion that can accept the can or bottle and a top portion adapted to butt against the base portion, where the combination of the base portion and the top portion fully encloses the beverage container.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, a beverage container, such as a can 10 or a bottle, for example, can fit into a base portion 14. The base portion 14 is configured to wrap around the bottom of the can 10 and the sides of the can 10, leaving a portion from about ½ inch to about 2 inches away from the top surface of the can 10.

A top portion 16 of the insulated beverage container holder of the present invention is adapted to fit over the portion of the can 10 that is not insulated by the base portion 14. The top portion 16 can butt against the base portion 14 to fully enclose the can 10.

A hinge 18 can connect the top portion 16 to the base portion 14 along a portion of where they butt together. The hinge 18 can be a living hinge, for example, made of a flexible material. In some embodiments, the hinge 18 can permit the top portion 16 to spin about 270 degrees so that the top of the top portion 16 can be pressed against a side of the base portion 14. An attachment member, such as a hook and loop fastener, can be disposed on the top of the top portion 16 and the side of the base portion 14 such that the top portion 16 can be secured in place, preventing the top portion 14 from moving while the user is drinking out of the can 10. In other embodiments, the hinge 18 may be of sufficient strength to keep the top portion 16 from moving when the user is drinking out of the can 10.

The hinge 18 can be connected to the top portion 16 and the base portion 14 via various methods. For example, an adhesive 20 can be used to connect the hinge 18 to the top portion 16 and the base portion 14.

While the figures show a can 10 disposed in the insulated beverage container holder of the present invention, the insulated beverage container holder can be configured to hold other types of beverage containers. For example, a bottle can be disposed in the insulated beverage container holder of the present invention. In the bottle embodiment, the base portion and the top portion may be contoured to match the shape of the bottle, for example.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. An insulated beverage container holder comprising: a base portion configured to accept a beverage container therein, a top of the beverage container extending from about ½ to about 2 inches above the top of the base portion; and a top portion configured to fit over the top of the beverage container and butt against the base portion, enclosing the beverage container inside the base portion and the top portion.
 2. The insulated beverage container holder of claim 1, further comprising a hinge member extending between the base portion and the top portion, the hinge member operable to permit the top portion to be removed from the top of the beverage container.
 3. The insulated beverage container holder of claim 2, wherein the hinge is a living hinge flexibly connecting the base portion and the top portion.
 4. The insulated beverage container holder of claim 3, further comprising an adhesive connecting the hinge to the top portion and the base portion.
 5. The insulated beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the container is a can.
 6. The insulated beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the container is a bottle.
 7. An insulated can holder comprising: a base portion configured to accept a can therein, a top of the can extending from about ½ to about 2 inches above the top of the base portion; a top portion configured to fit over the top of the can and butt against the base portion, enclosing the can inside the base portion and the top portion; and a hinge member extending between the base portion and the top portion, the hinge member operable to permit the top portion to be removed from the top of the beverage container.
 8. The insulated can holder of claim 7, wherein the hinge is a living hinge flexibly connecting the base portion and the top portion.
 9. The insulated can holder of claim 7, further comprising an adhesive connecting the hinge to the top portion and the base portion.
 10. A method for keeping a caned beverage cold comprising: inserting a beverage can into a base portion of an insulated can holder, the base portion having a top portion connected thereto via a hinge; and disposing the top portion over a top of the beverage can so that the top portion butts against the base portion, enclosing the beverage can inside the insulated can holder. 